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T O P I C R E V I E W

spaced out

I've just added the STS-8 "Eyes" patch to the STS-8 page of my Crew Patches site.

For the moment I have only added the original 'crew' version and what I believe to be the regular AB Emblem commercial version. I would like to add known replica versions but I need decent scans.

I've listed a number of differences between these patches that should allow people to identify the 'crew' version since the thread fill in the windows is often not visible in photos or scans.

streetsnake

You're welcome...

spaced out

Yes, Ben is the one who provided decent images of his example of the original patch. The image on the old Goldberg auction looked good but was too dark to make out the twill and fill thread details.

Kevin also sent me image of two more versions, one the Randy Hunt replica and one unknown.

In fact I'm not sure now if the one I identified as the 'commercial' version is really the AB one or whether the UNK1 is the AB patch. Can anyone help clarify this?

Gonzo

Chris - I have what I believe is the standard AB version. I'll dig it out tonight and see if it may help. I looked at these once before a long time ago to figure out which one I actually had. Unfortunately, my collection is in a box as we're moving. But I know right where it is and I'll look tonight.

garymilgrom

One of my favorite all time patches. Nice work Chris.

Kevin T. Randall

I have looked out just five eBay sales of this patch for 2012. I think that was all there was, but if anyone knows of anymore please let us know. (Two of the below have now been deleted from the eBay records).

Lot numbers:

180787237725 (unsure which version).

190648826465 (UNK1).

380429184154 (Randy Hunt).

251071038071 (AB Emblem)?

140857306165 (UNK2) could this one be Eagle One Aerospace?

Just found another one.

140876708557, a lot of 6 Shuttle patches including the Randy Hunt version.

hoorenz

Since it is such an easy and cheap patch to reproduce, with only black twill and white thread, many versions are out there. I know Stewart Aviation in England made it, I believe Randy Wagner of Eagle One Aerospace did, maybe Randy Hunt as well...

Kevin T. Randall

Perhaps the one we thought Randy Hunt produced was actually manufactured by Stewart Aviation? As I bought two identical patches to the one labeled up as Randy Hunt from Stewart Aviation in 1986.

spaced out

It was the design shown on Randy Hunt's old website but of course he may have been getting them from Stewart Aviation.

Kevin T. Randall

I have just looked through some of Stewart Aviation's old Space Patches catalogues, (1986 - 87), and the images of their 'Eyes' patch is not the one associated at the moment with Randy Hunt, but the one manufactured by AB Emblem, the 'commercial' patch.

The plot thickens?

Gonzo

I checked mine and it is definitely the UNK2 version according to what Chris has posted now on the website. I was told when I purchased it that it was AB's. But who knows for sure right now with so little to actually go on? The back was what confirmed it. So check the backs too!

In any event, it's definitely UNK2. Guess I need to do some searching for the other versions now!

Joel Katzowitz

For what it's worth I checked my "eyes" collection and found the AB Emblems commercial version as well as unknown manufacturer 3" example. The crew names run around the perimeter of the patch except for Thornton which is located per the 4" variety. If anyone is interested I can send a scan.

Kevin T. Randall

One of those 3" versions has just sold for a staggering $36, lot No. 261130238821, and it had a brown tea or coffee stain at 5 o'clock.

Kevin T. Randall

Chris has up-dated his website to show the 'replica' versions of this patch manufactured by Stewart Aviation here in the U.K.

OV-105

For the STS-8 "Eyes" UNK2 patch, that is the same type that I got from Space Patch Collectors Club back in 1986 (?) out of Pittsburgh, PA. I don't know if that helps any.

Cascader

Just to let you all know that when I contacted Stewart Aviation back in February of this year I was told that they were not AB emblem patches but — "that we picked them up years ago don't know where from" — so they are NOT made by SA either.

hoorenz

They were sharing part of their inventory at the time with Spaceland Enterprises in Florida (Don Clark) and Space Country Souvenirs in Lompoc (Harry Bernard).

Gonzo

Which I thought would confirm my UNK2 as I got a lot of patches from SLE/Don Clark (like my original Mach 25) at the time. However, when I checked my records, mine came from Star Realm in April, 1992.